You know i make a couple of QSO on AO-51 last week on the V/S mode with the same set up i was using on AO-40 i remember where the noise level was in 2003 and i also remember the nature of this QRM Pop Pop hiss swishing sound and son on. What i remark different was the poping sound, there was more pops than 3 years ago! but they seems to conteract between them. (the has been perform in SSB not in FM)
The antenna was pointing at the horizon but as soon as i elevated the antenna the noise drastically reduce to a point where i am sure AO-40 phone QSO will be possible (If he was there...)
My point exactly. Here my antennas must be elevated to at least 25 - 35 degrees to get a shot at the sky (in most directions) just to see the sky. With S Band I probably need 40 degrees or more. So tests done at low elevation are of no concern to me. I wish I had horizon to horizon view of the sky for satellites but the trees keep the house and buildings much cooler here in the summer so i do not complain. I work sats in the winter when the leaves are gone.
As more and more phones and computer networks go digital and move to 5.8 ghz I think that will actually clear the 2.4 ghz band for us. Just a layman's opinion.
Les W4SCO